By Alyssa Schor Stella weighed only 2.9 lbs when she was rescued from Smyth County, Va. in early January 2015. The 8-year-old teacup Chihuahua needed many of her teeth and several lumps removed. She had a massive flea infestation. Much of her hair was gone, and she carried a bad odor, too. But when Michelle Nottingham, a friend of City Dogs Rescue’s fundraising events coordinator John Benedetto, first saw a photo of the dog online, she knew she wanted to meet her. After having Stella in her home for a week at the end of January, Michelle decided to adopt her. “I just knew I was gonna keep her,” Michelle said. “She just clung to me ever since I got her. She loves me.” Unfortunately, Stella faced more medical problems. She had a heart murmur, and she would occasionally collapse from lack of oxygen to the brain. Michelle brought Stella to a cardiologist, who ran several tests on the dog - as it turned out, she actually had bronchitis. Michelle said Stella also was not receiving enough quality food, which may have contributed to the hair loss and odor. “You could feel every bone on her body, and that was from having no muscle,” Michelle said. Stella now weighs 4 lbs. Most of her hair has grown back on its own; the odor is gone. Her coughing from the bronchitis has stopped, and the collapses are far less frequent, thanks to all her medications. Her teeth are still a work in progress, Michelle said. Stella can only eat soft treats and dog foods, as she only has three teeth – all on one side of her mouth. One of those teeth is infected. Next month, Michelle will take Stella to see a specialist. The dog’s teeth cannot be removed unless grafts are put in, which are fillers needed inside the mouth to keep the jaw in place. Although Stella still needs help fixing some of her medical issues, Michelle said her dog has come a long way in the few months she’s had her. “She’s in tip-top shape,” Michelle said. “It’s amazing what she looks like compared to what she did.” When adopted, Stella joined another dog, Vivian, in Michelle’s home. Michelle said the two dogs get along very well and keep each other company – Vivian has even taught her “little sister” to be a real city dog. “She acclimated really well,” Michelle said of Stella. Michelle said her favorite thing about Stella is her affection. Stella sleeps with Michelle and often sits on her chest when she’s lying down – traits of a true Chihuahua.
“She has to be near me, sit on me all the time,” Michelle said. Stella loves to wag her tail, run in the grass and travel. Michelle said Stella loves to give her kisses. “She’s such a good girl,” Michelle said. “I just can’t believe her transformation.”
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by Meredith Raimondi (CDR Director) "No group has more fun for a great cause." That was what Angela Oakley always said about City Dogs Rescue. The truth is that no one has more fun because we had Angela and she lit a spark in everyone she crossed paths with in her life. We sadly learned that Angela (age 44) passed away last night after a courageous fight against breast cancer. It is impossible to summarize the impact of Angela Oakley on City Dogs Rescue. To begin, it's important to know that Angela was there no matter what. Angela was there for the dogs and the people. Angela started as a volunteer dog walker on March 24, 2012 after she saw a Facebook post from her friend Matt Tosiello. She was the first person to ever sign up for CDR's just-launched dog walking program and after her first walk, she signed up to help every free Saturday she had available through the remainder of the summer. If it was a Saturday morning in Dupont, you could expect to spot Angela in her Blue NC Tarheel T-shirt walking a City Dog. Once diagnosed with cancer just a year ago, Angela never stopped volunteering for CDR. From the start, she was always one of the first to raise her hand to help (especially for the less glamorous sides of dog rescue like looking for a lost dog at 11:00 PM on a weekday or picking up a dog in the middle of Maryland at 1:00 AM). I can't begin to think of how many times Angela opened her car door to a dog in need of a ride and said, "Hop in!" In her first summer as a volunteer, Angela was joined by CDR co-founders Dave and Darren on a transport with dogs from Bladen County, NC. It was the first of countless road trips near or far that Angela made for rescue dogs. Everyone knew Angela in the City Dogs Rescue family. Countless volunteers and adopters remember her as the first smiling face that welcomed them to our community. Angela served tirelessly in her role as Adoption Events Coordinator oftentimes transporting dogs without fosters who needed exposure most and braving hot summer days or freezing cold weather. Amanda Schwartz, a fellow CDR volunteer, said that everyone saw Angela as a friend because "Angela is the best of CDR". This could not be more true. No person or dog ever felt unwanted in Angela's presence. Angela was one of CDR's biggest cheerleaders. She probably bought more shirts from CDRKid Ethan Katz's fundraiser than anyone else so that she could share her love of dog rescue with her friends and family. Here are some Angela-isms from her Facebook page: On City Dogs Rescue:
On Transformation:
Here are some of the countless dogs that Angela walked or drove for CDR: Angela always had the best descriptions of the dogs she met and made light of their goofier qualities as well:
When asked about her favorite dog, Angela said every time she met a dog she would think, "This is my favorite dog, but they’re all my favorite." Angela never picked favorites among people or animals, but it's no secret that to all of us at CDR, Angela was everyone's favorite. To all of us at CDR, Angela was everyone's favorite. Angela is survived by her mom Joyce and her brother Lee. She will be forever missed by everyone lucky enough to know her. CDR will be #TeamAngelaForever.
Help us spread the word about our online auction!
We are looking for gift certificates or tickets for restaurants, hotels, sporting events, performances, shows, concerts. Everyone knows someone! If you'd like to help us contact places to donate, please email meredith@citydogsrescuedc.org. Interested donors are asked to fill out the form below. (If the form isn't loading, please try this link.) The deadline for submissions is June 30. Thank you! The flyer below provides information about CDR and can be given to contacts who might be interest in donating an item:
The file below can be downloaded and used as a gift certificate template if you like:
By Lauren Caldwell On spring afternoons in Washington, D.C., the streets come alive with men and women in sweatbands, sneakers, and brightly colored t-shirts. For many residents, recreational sports leagues—and the requisite post-game pitchers of beer on restaurant patios—are the center of social life in the District. With nearly two thousand members, Stonewall Sports has become one of the most visible recreational sports leagues in the area. Yet what sets the league apart is its commitment to charitable giving. Since its establishment in 2010, Stonewall Sports has donated more than $12,000 to City Dogs Rescue to further its mission of rescuing dogs from overcrowded and high-kill shelters. Stonewall Sports was founded to provide a positive and inclusive environment for the LGBT community and allies, and has grown to include dodgeball, kickball, bocce, darts, and billiards leagues. Philanthropy is at the core of its mission: Teams compete to donate to charitable organizations of their choice, raising money through fundraising events, sponsors, and low-cost registration fees. “Stonewall Sports has three core values: fun, philanthropy, and building a community through sports,” founding member Melvin Thomas said. These values attract community members with big hearts, who often care passionately about animal welfare, Thomas said. Lane Hudson, a lifelong rescue dog owner, has helped to raise more than $3,000 for City Dogs Rescue through his Stonewall Bocce team. Hudson and two of his teammates have also fostered dogs through City Dogs Rescue. “It’s wonderful to see the impact of the money you win for City Dogs Rescue,” Hudson said. On City Dogs Rescue social media accounts, donors can follow the journey of a dog from its rescue—when it is often unhealthy and fearful—to its eventual placement in a caring home in the Washington, D.C., area. This tangible impact is a key feature of Stonewall’s charitable giving strategy. By partnering with local organizations, teams can make a measurable difference in their community, member Austin Henderson said. For example, in order to rescue one dog from a shelter, City Dogs Rescue must raise $250 and find a local foster home. Every $250 donation helps to cover veterinarian, transportation, and other expenses that typically exceed the adoption payment. Although Stonewall Sports is a young organization and run entirely by volunteers, its presence is strongly felt in the community. One can hardly enter a gym or grocery store without encountering a Stonewall Sports t-shirt, Thomas said. And for members who have painful childhood memories associated with dodgeball, Stonewall Sports provides an opportunity to “be your most authentic self” in an environment free of judgment. With $48,000 donated to charitable organizations in the first half of 2015, Stonewall Sports teams in Washington, D.C., are on track to donate $100,000 annually, Thomas said. In addition to City Dogs Rescue, past partners have included the DC Center for LGBT Community, Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL), The Wanda Alston House, and Casey Trees, among many others. Looking ahead, Stonewall Sports will continue to grow its presence outside the District. On July 17-19, the organization will host its first national tournament, inviting teams from Illinois, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania to celebrate five years in operation. Stonewall Sports will also expand its partnerships with local organizations, seeking opportunities to not only donate money, but to actively engage with meaningful causes, member Tommy Rossman said. As an organization that relies entirely on donations to fund its rescue efforts, City Dogs Rescue is grateful for the enthusiastic support of Stonewall Sports teams over the past several years. To learn more about Stonewall Sports or to join a team, please visit their website or league registration pages: Stonewall Billiards Stonewall Bocce Stonewall Darts Stonewall Dodgeball Stonewall Kickball Over 30% of our dogs come to us testing positive for heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs that is spread by mosquitoes and is caused by worms that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels. This causes severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body. A simple monthly pill can prevent this disease, but many of our dogs were not taken care of properly in their previous lives. CDR has programs with both the Humane Society of Charles County and District Veterinary Hospital which allow us to treat these dogs at a reasonable cost. We have made the commitment to get all our dogs, whether current fosters or alumni, the care and treatment they need and deserve, so they can get their “happy ever after”. In honor of heartworm awareness month we’re sharing the stories of some of the dogs who were heartworm positive and have successfully undergone treatment. All of these families went above and beyond, caring for these dogs when they needed it most! We love our heartworm positive adopters and fosters. When asked why they adopted a heartworm positive dog, Puddin's dad said “We are lab lovers and when we saw Puddin’ we were immediately interested. After it was shared with us that she had heartworms I did a little research along with the information you provided me and I learned that this disease is completely treatable. I spoke with several vets and others who have adopted heartworm positive animals. We decided that if we were going to 'rescue' a dog then we had to be fully committed to nursing her back to health for it to be a true rescue.” The best thing about Puddin' is that she "is an extremely affectionate lab, just as I remembered them to be. She loves attention and is amazing with my small children (pictured above). I waited a long time to get another dog so my kids would have the same memories I had with previous labs. Puddin’ does have an appetite for dress shoes but otherwise she is doing great.” Puddin' was rescued from Bladen County, NC and was adopted in January 2015. Heidi was rescued from Cleveland County, NC and was adopted by Beth in December 2014. Beth fell for Heidi the minute she saw her shelter photo and didn't see her condition as a barrier to adoption, as it was very treatable. Treatment began this past January, and after initially being concerned about keeping Heidi's heart rate down, which is very important during treatment, Beth realized it wasn't a problem at all, especially since the cold weather made shorter walks easier. They found many indoor activities to keep Heidi occupied, such as making treasure boxes, where Beth would place individually-wrapped treats using newspaper and empty toilet paper rolls in a box. Heidi would dig in and take each little parcel one-by-one, bring it to her bed, and unwrap it to find the treat. Beth says her favorite thing about Heidi is that "in addition to being completely adorable, Heidi is very easy-going and is a great fit for me. She is friendly with everyone we meet, and she has been a great foster sister to other CDR pups." Beth also has quite the sense of humor. She says "Because Heidi was surrendered by her owner for chasing chickens, I have quite a collection of chicken themed dog toys that I have purchased so that she can have all of the chickens she wants." Butler was rescued from Bladen County, NC and was adopted in November 2014. Butler's family says the process of finding a dog was more about personality and being able to get along with the resident young child and a cat. They say "When we found out Butler was heartworm positive it was a little bit nerve-wracking and followed by a LOT of questions. But, after many questions and talking with our CDR volunteers we made the decision to adopt Butler anyway because we didn't want to give up on a dog that was a good match for us just because he had heartworms. Something that was totally not his fault." His family emphasizes that you don't want to miss out on a great dog just because they are heartworm positive. "I would tell anyone interested in adopting a dog that happens to be heartworm positive--that you should go with your gut. If that is the dog you love and want to adopt, the treatment is just a step in the process, a part of your story together." Butler has fit right in with his family. He snores and is a kid-cuddler. He is a running buddy. Sometimes he's shy, and he loves peanut butter. He loves to go for car rides as long as it isn't to the vet. He loves to watch soccer games. " We are happy he chose us." Lucy was rescued from Bladen County, NC and was adopted last year. Lucy's mom Mary had already seen a picture of Lucy and then got to meet her when her foster dad dropped by Mary's son's place of work. After learning more about the heartworm treatment process, Mary decided to go ahead with the adoption due to Lucy's sweet disposition. Her biggest concern was, after having been through so much already, that Lucy would think she was abandoned when spending the night at the vet to receive treatment. The treatment consists of two overnight trips to the vet spaced out over a few weeks. When asked what her favorite thing about Lucy is, Mary had a hard time picking just one. "She is perfect and has been from the moment I received her, she adores all people, she loves to snuggle, walk, and loves other dogs" Mary's father has some health issues and Lucy goes to visit her grandfather at the Jersey shore often and she acts as his personal therapy dog, taking long walks on the beach together and giving him unconditional love. Mary sadly lost her husband of 36 years just a few months before adopting Lucy and Lucy has provided great companionship to Mary as well. Mary says "I wanted a dog that was sweet and low maintenance but endearing and loving and that is precisely what I have." Jenny was rescued from Cleveland County, NC and was adopted in December 2014. Jenny's mom Lee says there were a number of reasons she was willing to adopt a heartworm positive dog, as she is a critical care nurse and facing a treatable illness of a loved one was just just not that big of a deal to her. "Dealing with very treatable health issue like this is a drop in the bucket when we look at the whole lifetimes of love and companionship that our doggies have ahead of them to share with us." Lee says "It's a great feeling to know that I was able to welcome Jenny into my life and get her through her health issue. The biggest reward is her happy positive energy and love and kisses." When asked what she would tell someone considering adopting a heartworm positive dog, Lee would tell them not to let it deter them off the bat and to consider the uniqueness of the dog and how he or she would fit into your family and home rather than focusing on the disease. "It's three months out of potentially 10-15 years of your and your dog's lives together. " Two-year-old Nicholas is Jenny's biggest fan. He states ""Jenny *MY* dog" and does everything he can for her, including scooping her food into her bowl and opening the door to let her out. He snuggles with his arm around her and makes statements of love such as, "Jenny beautiful dog. Jenny so cute. Jenny soft." Jenny's other human brother, the four-year-old, was fascinated by the science behind heartworm disease and its effect on the heart and lungs. Since her treatment ended, he proudly says, "Jenny is all better now. No more heartworms." Baker was is another dog rescued from Bladen County, NC. He was adopted in December 2014. When considering adopting a heartworm positive dog, Baker's mom Gabrielle said everyone they spoke to , the vet, CDR, family members, all said it was treatable. Since they had already fallen in love with him "it seemed like a no brainer to continue with the adoption process if this was a temporary condition" and "CDR's offer to pay for the treatment was another huge selling point." Baker was kept occupied during treatment with lots of Kongs and puzzles. When asked her favorite thing about Baker, Gabrielle said "When he lays next to me and his eyes show his love and happiness." We are grateful that these adopters and their fosters were able to look past the disease to see the dog and were willing to get through this process together. Although this is a treatable disease, it is preventable by giving your dog (or cat) a monthly dose of heartworm preventative, so please don't forget, even in the winter months when you think there are no mosquitoes.
Shelter Staff Appreciation Week is April 12-18. By: Meredith Raimondi (Volunteer Roane Shelter to Rescue Coordinator and Member of CDR Board of Directors) There is a widespread misconception that animal shelter staff do not care about the animals. In Roane County, West Virginia, this couldn't be further from the truth. The staff go above and beyond every day in a rural area with limited resources and overcrowded kennels. Oftentimes they find they have twice as many animals as kennels, which can leave for difficult decisions. The work of three extraordinary women, Stephanie Justice, Susan Lyons and Tanya Hicks, who are both staff members and dog fosters, has made a remarkable positive difference in lives of hundreds of animals and helped limit the number of animals put down due to overcrowding. As fosters, they volunteer their time and homes for dogs rescued by City Dogs Rescue. For a month or more, they feed, nurture, and care for these dogs. They travel far distances to go to the vet to ensure the dogs have all vaccinations and vetting prior to arrival in Washington, DC. Their charitable actions have inspired the local community to step up and join the Shelter Staff Fosters in finding ways to help animals leave the shelter alive through rescue or adoption. Whether it's through community fundraisers, adoption events, or fostering, everyone is pitching in to help the Roane County animals. Since City Dogs Rescue partnered with Roane Shelter, over 80 dogs from Roane County, WV have been rescued. Of those, 25 have been fostered by shelter employees Stephanie and Susan, and Animal Humane Officer Tanya. These women have seen it all. Yet, every day they go to work to make a difference in these animals lives. Their tremendous efforts have not gone unnoticed and their reduced euthanasia rates are undoubtedly related to their active Facebook page that is regularly updated. Many shelters are overwhelmed by a lack of resources especially when it comes to advertising adoptable animals. The shelter staff at Roane know that the animals lives depend on the exposure they get from the staff's photos. Each day they set aside what little time they have to make sure every dog or cat that comes through gets photos. With this system, every animal gets a chance to live. While this is not an easy task, it is just one way that the Roane Shelter staff gives their all every day. Along with the staff, several local community members have opened their homes to foster animals for rescues like City Dogs Rescue. The Shelter Staff Fosters have demonstrated to the community that rescues like CDR are committed to the dogs they save and that CDR will be there for them when they need it. With generous donations, CDR is able to pay for the vet care and transport from West Virginia to Washington, DC of approximately 10 dogs a month from Roane County. Local fosters help shelter dogs adjust to being inside a home, begin basic house training and crate training (often with dogs who have never lived inside a home before), and drive them to the necessary vet appointments needed to prepare them for their journey to Washington. With the exposure through Roane's Facebook page of the rewards of fostering, several new fosters have joined the volunteer force in Roane County and the surrounding area. (CDR is always seeking more fosters in West Virginia as every home means another life saved. For more info, email roaneshelter@yahoo.com).
This week, we would like to give it up for Stephanie (foster for 9 dogs and counting), Susan and Tanya (fosters of 16 dogs and counting)! Please join us in thanking the Roane Shelter Staff Fosters. If you would like to make a donation in honor of the Roane Shelter Staff Fosters for their next foster dog, please do so here: http://citydogsrescuedc.org/donate.html. I know that this would be very meaningful for them as the stream of animals never ends nor does the love in their hearts. When one foster leaves, they are already looking ahead to the next. They are truly remarkable. Please specify donations for the "Roane Shelter Staff Fosters." Everyone who follows City Dogs Rescue knows that it can be agonizing day after day to see the urgent cries for help. Time and again our supporters make it possible for us to save deserving souls. Kacey is one of those dogs. (Original Facebook post) Kacey was going to be euthanized on January 27 because she was a senior beagle (approximately 10+) in an overcrowded shelter showing signs of costly health problems (lumps). She didn’t even have a name. We knew her chances were slim but our donors came forward to help us fund her rescue. Karen Johnson sponsored Kacey's rescue. We also requested someone to be a foster for her. Our volunteer fosters go above and beyond, but it takes an even more extraordinary person to step up for a dog without any history or background information and say “I’ll help”. Karen raised her hand to provide a loving home for Kacey not knowing how long it would be for or what it would entail. The good vets at Smyth County Animal Hospital took good care of her for us until she was ready to come to DC. Kacey has been in out of the vet and her prognosis is not good and there’s not much we can do. In the meantime, Karen and her family (husband Sage, furbabies Tahoe and CDR alumna Fiona) are making her as comfortable as possible and documenting her days with them. She has been diagnosed with two types of cancer: mammary carcinoma and a mast cell tumor. The oncology specialists said they cannot cure her cancer but we are doing all we can to keep her pain at a minimum. Cancer is not easy with dogs or people. At this time, we want her to live in a stable, comfortable place and Karen has committed to being her hospice home. We will not be placing her up for adoption as she is in her forever home now. Karen says, “Her cough is the worst at night but the cough medicine is helping. She is still very active. She loves to eat and run through our yard. She and our other two dogs seem to be acclimating well and Kacey is learning to play. She currently only likes my socks and my husbands firewood gloves.” She remarked how brave Kacey is and assured us that the rest of her life will be grand. Thanks to everyone who has made it possible to make Kacey’s last days with us love-filled with Karen, Sage, Fiona and Tahoe sharing all that's good in life with her. Photography Courtesy of Hannele Lahti (adogphotographer.com) By Kirsten Allen Posted: February 24, 2015 The Maritime Administration prides itself on the abundance of mariners at the agency, both active and retired, who are dedicated to improving the transportation network. However, for some, like Scott Davies, their work in transportation extends beyond our nation’s waterways. When Scott, a naval reservist and MARAD’s Acting Director for the Office of Marine Highways, is not ensuring the safe and efficient movement of freight across our inland waterways, he is transporting puppies across our skies. Working with City Dogs Rescue (CDR), a local Washington, DC volunteer-led organization, Scott, who earned his pilot’s license in 2013, flies adoptable dogs from overcrowded shelters where resources are severely limited to people who are looking for a new four-legged family member. Posing with Roane County Animal Shelter volunteers at Boggs Field in Spencer, West Virginia. “When I first got involved with the organization, I was transporting dogs by car,” said Scott. “Driving over six hours one way, usually on a weeknight, can be quite exhausting. So I found a smarter way to contribute and do what I love.” Raised along the Florida coastline and a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, a career in maritime was a given for Scott. However, his passion also lied in aviation – living just south of the Kennedy Space Center, he would always watch shuttle launches. Most recently, Scott was joined by Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen, a retired nuclear submarine captain and also a licensed pilot, as they took to the skies to rescue four dogs, bringing them to new lives with adoptive families in the Washington, DC region. Departing from Tipton Airport near Fort Meade, Md., Scott and Administrator Jaenichen flew to West Virginia, where they were met by volunteers from the Roane County Animal Shelter. Once the dogs were safely onboard, they quickly settled down, safe in the knowledge that a better life with loving families awaited them back in DC. “My favorite part of it all is landing back at the airport and watching the families meet up with the dogs,” said Scott. “We deliver them right there on the ramp and both volunteers and adoptive families are ecstatic about seeing these dogs head to a new home.” This trip marked the twelfth such flight that Scott has performed for CDR, which was founded in September 2011 to rescue adoptable dogs in overcrowded and high-kill rural shelters. Many of the dogs in these shelters are often just days away from being euthanized. Rescue flights to rural areas provide CDR and their partner shelters with easy access to transports. These partnerships, coupled with a network of over 300 volunteers, have allowed CDR to save over 1,200 dogs to date. Buster’s current and past fosters unanimously describe this boxer-shepherd mix as an incredibly sweet dog. Buster, who is around 7-8 years old, was rescued from Cleveland County, NC, after his owner was killed by a drunk driver. Buster grew up with another dog, Buddy, who has already been adopted. Now Buster would love to find a new forever home as well! In addition to this sad and abrupt change in Buster’s life, he is also blind. According to the ophthalmologist, he lacks a retina and experiences no discomfort whatsoever. Fortunately, Buster’s blindness doesn’t seem to be too much of a challenge for him; his hearing and sense of smell are very alert, and it only takes him a day or two to learn a new home environment. His fosters have remarked that he seems to have an amazing radar sense that lets him avoid bumping into things. He also has no problem with going up and down stairs. After living mostly outdoors, Buster is currently getting used to indoor life, and he is thriving! He’s very content snuggling up in a dog bed and has done a great job learning to sleep in a crate, too. Buster is clearly very intelligent and his house training has progressed at a quick rate, with no accidents to report. He has a calm, laidback nature and enjoys taking leisurely naps, as well as being petted. Buster hadn’t had much experience with toys prior to being fostered through CDR, and he seems to be gradually becoming more interested in them. He also loves going on walks and checking out all the smells outside, and is doing very well with learning to walk on a leash. Curious and sociable, Buster loves following you around the house to hang out—and become more familiar with his surroundings—but he isn’t clingy. Former foster Sarah said that Buster is the most grateful dog she’s ever had, and everyone who meets him agrees that he is just so appreciative of receiving love and affection! In general, he is very low-key, quiet, and undemanding. He even decided to help Sarah out with her Christmas decorations this year [PHOTO]. Buster has been observed getting along well with other dogs after they are properly introduced, since Buster’s blindness can make him cautious at first. He behaves well around cats and typically ignores them. Buster would probably do best in a new home that does not have young children. Since he’s so attentive to sounds, a noisy environment might be stressful or confusing to him. He definitely wants a place where he can become familiar with the setting and grow comfortable and relaxed! The ideal adopter will help Buster explore his environment through multiple senses. Otherwise, Buster leads a very normal life, and he would love to find a new forever home and loving adopters to bond with! Since Buster is a senior dog, he has a reduced adoption fee. Learn more about adopting this sweetheart here. Peanut is a lovable Chihuahua senior dog, around six to eight years old, who was rescued from Smyth County, VA. She has a very calm, affectionate demeanor and loves to snuggle. You’ll often see a big smile on her face with her tongue hanging out, especially when she’s getting some pets in!
She’s happy both being held and also hanging out in her doggy bed or a nest of pillows on the couch—current foster Donna affectionately describes dainty Peanut as “a fine-boned and delicate little girl, like a prima ballerina.” This lovebug is a low-key couch potato who likes one-on-one attention, but she also doesn’t mind having some extra time outside on leashed walks. A curious pup, she likes the opportunity to exercise her independent spirit, sniffing and exploring her surroundings. Though she may seem delicate, Peanut has been brave in overcoming some prior health issues. When she was first rescued, she had a suspected glaucoma in her left eye. After further investigation and treatment, it was discovered that the sclera, or white of her eye, was also infected and causing pain for poor Peanut. After receiving pain medication and antibiotics to combat the infection, Peanut had surgery to remove the eye. She was blind in that eye prior to surgery, so she’s had no adjustment issues in navigating her surroundings. Peanut made it through the recovery like a champ and is now happily pain free! She also had some dental work, getting some teeth pulled in addition to a thorough cleaning. Peanut has gotten along well with the different foster families she’s stayed with, showing that she will easily make herself at home—so long as there’s a spot for her to take the long snoozes she loves (she’s been known to make a nest out of whatever soft and snuggly materials are available)! Peanut happily settled in with one foster family of two cats, two dogs, as well as two children. She enjoyed hanging out with the kids, who are seven and nine years old, showing how gentle and affectionate she can be. Around other dogs, Peanut is usually the less vocal one of the bunch who doesn’t bark except occasionally, in response to another dog starting the conversation! Peanut has not had any accidents and does fine outside of a crate. She loves having free range to explore and hang out while indoors. Her sense of adventure can kick in when she heads outside, so she would do best being kept on a leash while on walks and at the park. This well-mannered little lady would love to settle in with you and curl up on the couch! To sweeten the deal (though Peanut is already plenty sweet!), you can adopt Peanut for a reduced senior dog fee. Learn more about adopting Peanut here. |
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